I02 Maine; agricultural explrimlnt station. 1909. 



of an alkali. In order to study the effect of liming soils upon 

 the development of scab in a potato crop* it was deemed best to 

 use the lime as one would in ordinary farm practice. For this 

 purpose a field was treated with lime and after the grain and 

 grass crops had been removed it was experimented with for 2 

 years as regards the development of scab upon potatoes. The 

 effect upon potatoes has been reported.* 



An experiment upon another field was begun in 1907 on 

 which it is proposed to follow up the effect of lime upon the 

 development of scab on potatoes. On this field smaller amounts 

 of lime were used than on the Watson field to see if the bene- 

 ficial effect of the lime might be had and at the same time not 

 introduce soil conditions favorable to the growth of the scab 

 fungus. There is here reported the effect of lime upon the 

 grain crop and the legumes when it was applied^at the time of 

 seeding down. It is planned to test the effect upon the potato 

 crop in 1909 and 19 10. 



ON WATSON FARM. 



The piece of land used for the purpose was on Mr. John 

 Watson's farm in Houlton, and had been in potatoes two years, 

 receiving about 1200 lbs. of high grade fertilizer to the acre each 

 year. After plowing it also received a liberal coat of stable 

 manure. When seeded in 1905 it was divided into plots of one- 

 half acre each and 300 lbs. of a complete fertilizer were 

 added to each plot. To plots Nos. 2 and 6 were added 500 lbs. 

 of lime and Nos. 4 and 8, 1000 lbs. of lime to each plot which 

 was harrowed in before the grain was sowed. 



The lime seemed to have little or no effect on the oat crop 

 and the yields of the dift"erent plots were not kept separate but 

 the clover growing in 1906 showed a marked difference between 

 the plots that were limed and those that were not limea. The 

 clover plants were much longer and greener and lines between 

 them and the plots not limed were very plain. The greatest 

 difference was on the higher and dryer portions of the field. 

 The ends of the plot that were low and moist showed but little 

 difference in appearance of yield. The following is the yields 

 estimated when the hay was loaded on to the racks. 



* See Bulletin 140 this Station, p. 4. 



